Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team split the opening doubleheader of a four-game series with visiting Valley City State University, winning the opener 7-3 before dropping the finale 8-5.
The split moves the Bruins to 16-8 on the season and 5-1 in the NSAA. VCSU is now 9-16 overall and 3-2 in league play.
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader tomorrow (April 2) at Roy Smith Field.
Game 1: Bellevue 7, Valley City State 3
Lauren Jurek went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and two RBIs to lead the Bruins to the 7-3 victory in the opener.
Bellevue took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI double to center field by Liana McMurtry and on a two-run homer to right field by Jurek.
An RBI single to right field by Reese Floro increased the lead to 4-0 in the top of the second frame.
BU tacked on another run in the top of the third with an RBI single to center field by Mya Montero that scored Jurek from third, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
A two-out RBI single to left field by Montero made it 6-0 in the top of the fifth inning.
The Vikings got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer to left-center field by Marissa Hawkins, slicing the BU lead to 6-1.
An RBI double down the left-field line by Rylee Perryman and a run-scoring single to center field by Sierra Crocker brought the Vikings to within three runs at 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
The Bruins added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single to left field by Myla Beckstrom, making it 7-3.
Katie Cunningham allowed just one baserunner in the bottom of the seventh to secure her seventh victory of the season.
Cunningham (7-4) allowed five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in seven complete innings of work.
Joelle Lamontagne (4-7) suffered the loss, giving up 13 hits with two walks and three K's in seven innings.
Game 2: Valley City State 8, Bellevue 5
The Vikings used a pair of three-run homers, and the Bruins stranded 10 baserunners as VCSU emerged with the 8-5 victory in the nightcap.
A throwing error by Viking shortstop Ashlyn Diemert allowed Floro to score from second, giving BU an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first.
VCSU responded in the bottom of the first, scoring on a three-run homer to left field by Crocker, giving the Vikings a 3-1 edge.
A sacrifice fly to left field by Floro scored Cunningham from third, slicing the lead to 3-2.
The Bruins tied the game at 3-3 when Jurek drove in a Sami Reding from third on a fielder's choice RBI to the shortstop.
The Vikings regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth at 5-3, scoring on an RBI double to right field by Makenzee Stone and on a Bruin fielding error.
The Bruins tied the game at 5-all in the top of the sixth when Leslie Egan scored following a fielding error by second baseman Andrea Rodriguez, and Montero plated a run on a passed ball by catcher Alyssa DePoorter.
A three-run homer to center field by Ashlynne Copinga helped the Vikings regain the momentum, taking an 8-5 margin heading into the final frame.
Maddy Zander (4-3) picked up the complete-game win, allowing just a walk in the top of the seventh to secure her fourth victory of the season.
Savannah Gunn (3-2) was credited with the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings in the circle.
